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Girl Scouts of the USA Now Offering Cybersecurity Badges

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Many cybersecurity professionals work across the globe. However, an unexpected bunch of cybercrime fighters are being added to their ranks. These cybersecurity pros are not the stereotypes you may have in mind.

They are Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts of the USA will offer a total of 18 cybersecurity badges. These join the cornucopia of awards and badges their members can earn. These merits recognize girls who explore their interests and learn new skills. Earning the badges involves a variety of programs for the Girl Scouts. They must learn the basics of computer networks, cyber attacks, and online safety. The goal is to encourage scouts to become experts. That way they can meet the future cybersecurity challenges of our ever-changing world.

Girl Scouts in grades K-12 can earn these badges. The purpose is to increase their interest and instill in them a valuable 21st century skillset. It is a huge step toward eliminating barriers to the cybersecurity industry, such as gender and geography. Girls as young as five years old will have a solid foundation due to this program. It primes them for career success.

Developing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Sylvia Acevedo, the CEO of GSUSA, when asked about the new badges said, “We recognize that in our increasingly tech-driven world, future generations must possess the skills to navigate the complexities and inherent challenges of the cyber realm. From arming our older girls with the tools to address this reality to helping younger girls protect their identities via internet safety, the launch of our national Cybersecurity badge initiative represents our advocacy of cyber preparedness…”

The cybersecurity badge program comes during a time in which the Girl Scouts of the USA have been increasing their programming in the STEM fields. These include topics related to science, technology, engineering, and math. While the programs are designed to be fun, the hope is that it will also inspire more girls to pursue careers in STEM.

Historically, women have been vastly underrepresented in STEM fields. Cybersecurity has an even greater disparity. Women hold only 11 percent of jobs globally. This is according to the 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study: Women in Cybersecurity.

This is an important step forward in educating the next generation of cybersecurity professionals while closing the gender gap in this field.